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Author
Topic: HIV Positive and Auto Immune Disease (Read 1721 times)

Okay, I am looking for help. I was diagnosed in 2001 and have been doing great on medication until I developed a connective tissue autoimmune disease. I am wondering if there is anyone out there in the same situation and what they are doing that works. I am now taking immune suppressant for the autoimmune and that is not good for the HIV treatment side. Any ideas anyone?

I was diagnosed with HIV 4 yrs ago. I rapidly progressed to meds within 14months of diagnosis.

After my seroconversion, one of the thing i suffered with was diarrhea approx 20-30 times a day. Anyway to cut a very long story short after many hospital admissions and biopsies i was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, which is also an autoimmune disease. It has been horrific and has resulted in many hospital admissions, bleeding from my back passage, terrible abdominal pain and diarrhea all day long everyday. So i was put on prednisolone, high dosage steriods which act as an immunosuppressant and have been on and off them for 12 months. Again, to cut a long story short they havent worked and the Dr wants me to begin Azathioprine. This is a very powerful immunosuppressant that is used for transplant patients. I have rejected his advice due to the concern i have about it affecting my CD4's. Despite my fears I have spoken to some tope HIV drs who have assured me that as long as i am montitored it should be fine and will not affect my immune function.

What medication are you on? How has it affected your CD4's since taking them?

Delby thank you for your response. I was taking Viramune, Acyclovir and I forget the other one. Beginning this year I am on Truvada, Isentress and Acyclovir. I am currently on Prednisone since the Rheumatologist found my muscle enzyme was too high and was causing extreme pain. I have not had a running stomach but I am constipated instead. I have one maybe two bowel movements a WEEK. I have been referred to a Gastro doc and my appt is this coming Thursday. I have really tried to keep myself healthy but something is just off. I even tried juicing to see if it would help with the inflammation but no luck.